How to Add Value to Your Home with an Exterior Makeover

Your home’s curb appeal and the exterior have an important role in adding value when the time comes to move on and sell. A captivating exterior can significantly improve the visual beauty of the property and make it stand among the similar homes in the row. Although not the primary feature that buyers focus on, the home exterior creates the first impression. A good exterior makeover can reel the buyer in, so all the work and money you invested in getting the façade, landscape, and other details done eventually pays off through a higher negotiating price. Take a look at these ideas on making your neighbors red with envy.

Refresh the Façade

Your façade is like the calling card of your home. If it’s in bad shape, most property buyers will think twice before going inside. Your goals should be to make your home as presentable as possible; power-hose the façade and give it a layer of new paint. If you have the brick siding, make sure the grout is free from cobwebs and other debris. If you live in a brick house that has been painted over, you may as well consider unpainting it. Raw brick is currently one of the hottest home trends now, and its appeal is nothing short of timeless. Before you purchase the paint, check if there are any local regulations on the type of paint and colors you can use. If you have all the freedom, choose a lighter shade with darker accents on window and door trims.

Spruce Up the Driveway

A well-maintained and interesting driveway is a great way of adding value to your property. Not only does it give your home a finished look, but you avoid having the cars parked on the front lawn. There are plenty of options for creating a visually stunning driveway, whether you prefer hardscaping or softscaping. Hardscaping typically consists of adding walls and fences around the driveway or re-laying it with different materials, such as asphalt, concrete, brick, and gravel. Softscaping, on the other hand, relies on enhancing various features of your driveway through the use of flower beds, ornamental trees, groundcover, shrubs, and other elements that provide a gentler visual appeal.

Tame the Landscape

Not many things can increase the value of your home like neat landscaping both at the front and in the back. A maintained lawn, weed-free garden beds, pruned shrubs, and colorful flowers will add a distinctive charm to your home’s curb appeal. However, to keep the most money in your pocket, avoid high costs of investing in new plants season after season, and look for plants that are native to your region. Not only are these more tolerant to droughts, but they can last for many years with minimal maintenance. Some of them have an increased resistance to pests and disease. Also, plant flowers that are resistant to harsh weather and use a mulch to both enhance the visual appeal of your saplings and beds by keeping weeds at bay, and to improve their nutrition. Remember to water the lawn and the plants regularly, and cover any bare spots with new grass.

Fix the Roof

While perhaps not that visible from the street side, an interested buyer will certainly check out your home’s roof. Missing shingles or a roof that is curling up or bulging is a sign that something’s wrong with its structure but more importantly that the current owner has done nothing to repair it. Unless you have your roof entirely repaired, you’re allowing appraisers to reduce the value of your home, at least by the cost of the repairs. If it turns out that your roof needs serious structural repairs, you’ll need to find a reliable crane hire company to help you get the problem fixed with minimal disturbance of the usual family routines down below. According to some statistics, a new roof has a return on investment as high as 109%.

Raise the Fence

It’s not only that good fences make good neighbors, but they can significantly increase the overall value of your home. No one will say no to a fence – buyers with children and pets will appreciate the safety of an enclosed yard, not to mention the privacy and security you get with a good fence. Besides, if your neighborhood is full of homes with fences, the lack of one can be a serious downside to your real estate listing. With fences there are many options to consider, depending on whether your main concern is security, privacy, or appearance. Also, when choosing a material within these criteria, make sure it matches the style of your house and the general theme in your neighborhood. A chain-link fence would certainly be an eyesore in a suburban lane with hedges and white picket fences.

Upgrade the Door

The main entrance is one of the first things a visitor checks out when approaching your home from the street. Not only is your front door the gateway to the house, but it’s one of the most impactful elements of your home’s curb appeal. By either painting or replacing your front door, you can add a fresh color accent to your house – a bright red door against a white house façade can create excitement that is hard to ignore. However, aesthetic upgrades are only one side of the story. If your front door lacks insulation and caulking around the frame, it can increase your home’s heat gains or losses, so your HVAC system has to work overtime. Older doors are often thinner and equipped with simple locks, while a strong modern door that is more burglar-proof will appeal to buyers.

When it comes to selling your home, first impressions are essential. Buyers are notoriously harsh examiners, often spoilt for choice, but more likely looking for something to kill the asking price with. Street appeal is important, primarily to even out the playing field by impressing potential buyers even before they step out of their car.

Diana Smith is a full-time mom of two beautiful girls simply in love with home remodeling and the latest DIY projects. In her free time, she enjoys exercising and preparing healthy meals for her family.